In 1951, several pioneer drag racers opened on of the Midwest's first drag strips known by local racing enthusiasts as the "Fulton Airport Champioins Raceway." For the next eight years half-brothers Art and Walt Arfons, Otis "Otie" Smith and "Akron Arlen" Vanke raced here. Both Arfons, who were long-time bitter rivals, at one point held the world land speed record. Otie, the first president of the Cam Jammers car club in Akron, won the National Hot Rod Association's 1959 championship. Vanke won many national champtionships as a Stock, Super Stock and Pro Stock racer.